Louis had taken an affectionate farewell of his father and his mother at home, and now Lucy and Martha took him down to Goreville Square in a dairy wagon, not only to see him off, but to witness the celebration given in honor of the departure of the Goreville Volunteers. Big bonfires were blazing, a flag flew from the front of every house and place of business, and the small boys were shooting off all the powder and crackers they could lay hands on, while in the midst of all little Benny Bruce was rolling his drum as never before, calling the men together for their first march of a hundred and fifty miles or more. “Fall in, men!” cried Captain Paulding. There was a hasty handshaking and a kissing all around, and the men hurried to the center of the square. “Company, attention! Shoulder arms! Forward march!” Rap! Rap! Rap-rap-rap! went Benny Bruce’s big drum, and off the company started in two rather irregular lines. Old Bruce gave a rousing cheer and this was taken up on all sides, while the ladies waved their handkerchiefs and some of the boys set off the cannon they had borrowed from somewhere. The Goreville Volunteers were off at last. Each man was provided with a gun of some kind, finding the weapon for himself, and each had likewise furnished himself with a belt and ammunition-box, a haversack, and a blanket. None of the privates had uniforms outside of caps, which the general store-keeper at Goreville had donated. The officers wore uniforms of their own selecting, while Benny Bruce had been tricked out with uniform and drum by his enthusiastic father. The flag the company carried had been presented by the ladies of the district, who had held a large “donation” party for the purpose of raising the necessary funds. Each man’s haversack was stocked to overflowing with rations, and behind the company drove a wagon packed with other necessities of camp life. The course of the company lay directly southeast through the State of Maryland. At that time it was known that Maryland was “on the fence” so far as joining the North or the South was concerned, and hardly had the boundary-line of the State been crossed than Captain Paulding halted the company and made a brief address. “Men, we have now entered the State of Maryland,” he began. “We trust this State will remain true to the Union, but we are not sure that she will do so. I know personally that there are many people living here who are rebels at heart, and some of these people may try to make us trouble. If--” “Let ’em try it on, that’s all,” came in a growl from the rear line. “Silence in the ranks. I feel as you do about this matter, but at the same time if we can reach Washington without open trouble, we had best do so. Of course, we will maintain our rights, but to seek a quarrel will only delay us.”